So long, Morocco. Hello, GHANA!

So this is where we deapart, Morocco. I'm not going to lie to you, I wasn't so sure about you when we first got off the ship in Casablanca, but I have to say we've grown closer over the past six days and you have more than exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to come see you again.

 

Sam and I headed to the Mosque this morning while it was still foggy out. The place is massive and has a retractable roof. We didn't go inside but we sat on a ledge just observing. It was amazing to see the local people come in and out of prayer. Something about it just makes time seem slower as though everything is at peace. I didn't take a picture of it in fear of disturbing someone's religious time nor did I feel the need to take one. The mosque in Casablanca is one of those things that all a picture does is tell you that you were there. It won't bring back the feelings or even give justice as to how majestic the structure actually is.

 

I've found that it's the same concept for all of Morocco. It starts out by you not pulling out your camera so you don't disturb or offend anyone and it ends in you not wanting to pull out your camera because you know there's no way words or pictures could ever describe what you're witnessing. I could sit here and describe the markets in Marrakech for hours and I still wouldn't be able to paint the full picture for you.

 

After the mosque we headed over to this little cafe for lunch. It was tucked away within a garden with seating outdoors. We were impressed by the feel of the place, and the service and food put it over the top. We had a four course meal for around $20 American per person. Not too shabby. The first course was bread with two dipping sauces. One tasted kind of like salsa (but MUCH better) and one was a spicy chili sauce. Then came the Moroccan salad. This consisted of five different bowls filled with different things. You could mix them however you wanted. My favorite was carrots, tuna, and peppers mixed with tomatoes. I decided to be adventurous and try liver as my main course. Surprisingly, the first bite tasted like steak, but after that the texture turned to mashed potatoes and it was questionable. Some bites were definitely more bloody than others. For dessert we treated ourselves to chocolate fondue with bananas, apples, pineapples, and kiwis. Delicious. It was definitely the best way to spend the rest of our Dirhams!

 

We decided to head for the markets to spend what was left, but they were a great disappointment compared to Marrakech, so that didn't last long. After one last 20 minute walk through the port to get to the ship, we walked the gangway and are settling in for our seven day journey to GHANA! I can't wait to go live in a remote village for three days and meet the chief, elders, children, etc. I'm so pumped for that. It's going to be incredibly weird tomorrow waking up for classes after having ten days off to explore two different continents. Needless to say I am WAY behind on my reading and daily drawings. Oh well, it was definitely worth it :P

 

To sum up Morocco: Do not be fooled. Yes, you are going completely out of your element by traveling here. Heck, I walked around with blonde hair and got an overwhelming amount of attention. Some nice, some unwanted. But you know what? That's how THEY feel in OUR country. Turn the tables for once. I know what it's like to be the outcast somewhere. I know what my Muslim friends feel when they're walking around college campuses of shopping in the grocery store. I'm so happy to have experienced this. You need to look past the dust and the garbage everywhere when you get here. You need to fight the heat. If you're feeling hot and weak then you're not paying enough attention to the culture and too much attention to yourself. Look past the beggars on the street and the relentless souk owners trying to make a living. Instead, look for the beauty in the country because it's everywhere. Hop on a train and instead of first class comfy chairs, take second class and sit with some locals. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation. Don't sleep on the train, see as much of the rolling hills and desert land as you can. Take time to ponder the lives of those whom live in the five house villages you pass along the railway. Make friends with locals. They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet even despite all of the differences between our cultures. They still accept us with open arms, so why can't we do the same to them? Morocco is an amazing country. Don't let the appearance push you away. I guarantee you will have some of the most amazing experiences of your lives here.

 

Peace out.